Strange Day at the Range

[super8neon]

I just wanted to throw an experience out there....

This passed weekend my wife and brother went down to the local indoor range.
Took an assortment of .40 and 9mm guns to shoot.

Long story short...
I was up firing my XD40.
When out of the corner of my eye I see an round go through the gyp ceiling. Leaving a gapping hole.
My heart skipped a beat for a second.
I cease fire and look in the stall next to me and the guy is walking away to his buddy saying "I didn't know it was loaded."
They go walking away rather quickly towards the exit.
Leaving the 357 Revolver laying on the stand.

I returned to firing the rest of my clip.
Once I was finished I stepped back to find a trail of blood leading from their stall to the exit.
The Range officials came in and cleared the stall.
All the time leaving us wondering what he did.
They appeared to be new people to the range.

All I know is.... a round came too close for comfort to me.

After that we didn't want to fire anymore.
We left to find three local officers out in the front of the store.
Apparently an ambulance took them away.

I don't know what happened to the guy.
We are left still wondering today.


Everyone be careful out there.
Be even more careful when you are helping new people learn about gun safety.

I have been around guns my whole life, and I am by no means an expert.
But I remember the number one rule: Always treat a gun as if it is loaded.

I don't really want to mention the name of the range due to the fact I don't want to make complications for certain people.

[ScubaSigGuy]

I hope that he isn't seriously hurt and I'm glad that you didn't get hurt.


The holes in ceiling right above me at the range have always made me nervous. Almost every range that I have ever been to whether indoor or outdoor have had bullet Holes where there should not be any. That always told me that an AD happens often enough for me to wish for 1/2" steel between me and the shooter next to me. I always try to be very conscious of who is in the lane next to me.


Thanks for posting this.

[HighVelocity]

That is a good reminder of the safety hazards that are always present at a gun range.

I have had to play range officer many times when I see somebody doing something unsafe and the actual RO is nowhere to be seen. Things like handling a firearm behind the line, even looking down the barrel with their finger on the trigger.

Hopefully, the injury suffered by the person in this incident was not life threatening and they make a full recovery. And, they will not make the same mistake again.

[super8neon]

I don't think it was a life threatening injury

It looked like he approached the stand...
Didn't know the gun was loaded...
Picked the gun up to check and might have accidently hit the trigger or the hammer.

Luckily the gun was pointed up and down the range.
I was standing right next to the event... and thank god no one was seriously injured.

I said a lenghthy prayer that night.

[ScubaSigGuy]

super8,

I was there today and asked about the incident. He wasn't badly injured. Nobody really knows what happened, but he didn't shoot himself. It was hammer related thanfully.

The wierd thing is that the guys there didn't realize that Mr. HMS was next to you. Once I mentioned it it hit them.

[super8neon]

super8,

I was there today and asked about the incident. He wasn't badly injured. Nobody really knows what happened, but he didn't shoot himself. It was hammer related thanfully.

The wierd thing is that the guys there didn't realize that Mr. HMS was next to you. Once I mentioned it it hit them.

I recognized him quickly... his hair is really tall.

[catsofthebase3]

What range was this?

[Hoppes]

I just wanted to throw an experience out there....

This passed weekend my wife and brother went down to the local indoor range.
Took an assortment of .40 and 9mm guns to shoot.

Long story short...

Everyone be careful out there.
Be even more careful when you are helping new people learn about gun safety.

I have been around guns my whole life, and I am by no means an expert.
But I remember the number one rule: Always treat a gun as if it is loaded.

Super8neon,

That is some really good advice. ALWAYS TREAT EVERY GUN AS IF IT IS LOADED. CHECK THAT ACTION TWICE. MAKE SURE THE MAGAZINE IS OUT OF THE GUN BEFORE CLEARING THE ACTION TWICE.

Then check it some more. That was a scary story.

I have something else to add. Make sure if you are shooting various calibers, for instance, a 9 Mil and a .40 S&W, keep the different caliber ammo stored away from the weapon you are firing. Do not have it out until you are going to shoot the different weapon.

[45ACP]

I was at a South Houston range ~25 years ago, and a fellow at the far right hand stall had a MAC.

There was a range officer or instructor with him, telling him over and over again that he would need to control the muzzle because the muzzle was going to rise on him once he started spraying. The fellow with the MAC was impatient and kept saying, "Yeah, right, I got it".

And then impatient guy with the MAC pulled the trigger and stitched a neat row of holes in the gypsum ceiling panels leading back to the panel above his head. As fascinated as I was by a guy with a MAC, I decided to leave.

I'd hate to have something like this happen when I'm bringinig new shooters to the range, and have it scare them away. Either way I'd use it as an example of why gun safety is so important.

[badkarma56]

I'm pleased that no one was apparently seriously injured during this mishap. These are exactly the types of scenarios that have motivated me to seek membership at a private range. There simply seems to be too many unsafe shooters at these public ranges these days.

[yobdab]

I have something else to add. Make sure if you are shooting various calibers, for instance, a 9 Mil and a .40 S&W, keep the different caliber ammo stored away from the weapon you are firing. Do not have it out until you are going to shoot the different weapon.

Great advice! The last time I went to the range I was firing my P245 (45 cal) and it jammed after every shot, it did this for 5 rnds, and I was upset with the ammo. So I decided to fire my P226 (40 cal) when I reached for the ammo I noticed that the ammo was 45 cal. I had fired 5 rounds of 40 cal thru my 45 cal. I didn't even know that was actually possible!

I took the p245 and loaded it with the correct ammo and everything worked out fine but I could only imagine what could have happened.

[seamusTX]

These are exactly the types of scenarios that have motivated me to seek membership at a private range. There simply seems to be too many unsafe shooters at these public ranges these days.

I have some sad news for you: Jerks can be members of a private club, too. And when you run into one, you're on your own, because there's no range officer.

- Jim

[razoraggie]

Makes you think a little harder and it's why I normally choose the lane off to a side and alone. Next time your at Texas City, look at the range lights down field......it'll make you wonder.

[seamusTX]

Next time your at Texas City, look at the range lights down field......it'll make you wonder.

I do wonder, especially since they close before sundown, why do they have lights?

- Jim

[badkarma56]

These are exactly the types of scenarios that have motivated me to seek membership at a private range. There simply seems to be too many unsafe shooters at these public ranges these days.

I have some sad news for you: Jerks can be members of a private club, too. And when you run into one, you're on your own, because there's no range officer.

- Jim

Good point.